Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania (1998)B.S. College of New Jersey (1992)

Research History

I am an evolutionary biologist who has worked closely with Robbie Wilson and his students for more than a decade. When I first met Robbie, both of us were studying how animals adapt to changing temperatures. We still work on this problem, but we've spread out to cover other evolutionary problems as well.

Our collaboration works because we complement each other. I force Robbie to use mathematical models to guide his experiments. In return, he forces me to think outside the box and pursue risky ideas. Plus I can hang out in Australia whenever I want. In my opinion, Robbie gets the short end of the stick, but he seems okay with the arrangement.

Research Interests

Currently, we are using a cost-benefit approach to understand why animals lie to each another. This work started with the discovery that crayfish bluff their competitors with large claws that appear strong but are actually quite weak. Robbie and I modeled the relationships among morphology, performance, and dominance to detect widespread deception in these animals. We also considered the evolutionary mechanisms that promote deception. Now, we are applying the same approach to explain why people lie, such as when soccer players try to deceive goalkeepers through misdirection or when men try to deceive women through overconfidence.

Personal Interests

Sometimes I can't tell where my professional life ends and my personal life begins. I love traveling the world, meeting new people, and telling good stories—all of which are a big part of my job. When I am not engaged in these activities, I enjoy backpacking with my son, watching mind-bending films, and smoking a good cigar while thinking way too hard about the meaning of life.